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Ninja Coffee Maker Troubleshooting
About common problems you might have with the Ninja Coffee Bar and how to fix them.
Published March 24, 2022
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Daniel Hedlund
Coffee experts@The Coffee Lab
The Ninja Coffee Maker is a great investment for coffee lovers. With a range of different selections to choose from for your coffee, it’s like having your own barista in the kitchen. Whether you want a regular cup of coffee, a latte or cappuccino, or a cold brew or another iced coffee, the Ninja Coffee Maker is a seriously versatile appliance that will help you save money on buying coffee from a coffee shop. You can even set a delayed brew cycle to brew you a fresh cup of coffee from the moment that you wake up. But what happens if you’ve woken up and your coffee is cold or it won’t brew? Keep reading to find out more about some of most common problems that you might experience with a Ninja Coffee maker, and how to fix them.
Not Brewing
If your Ninja Coffee bar isn’t brewing, even if the coffee maker is switched on, then the first thing to do is look at the light indicators. Make sure that the power light is illuminated. If not, then the machine might not be getting power – use a different outlet to see if this fixes the issue. If it’s not the power, then make sure that there is water in the reservoir. If there is water in it, you may need to consider a Ninja Coffee Maker water reservoir replacement as in some cases, issues with the reservoir may cause the machine to stop brewing. If there is no water in the reservoir, fill it up with the amount you need, and this should allow you to start brewing.
If there are five beeps when trying to brew, this indicates that the Drip Stop is closed. You should also be able to see the light indicator illuminated. This looks like a slash through a water drop. For the brew to start, the Drip Stop needs to be open.
If you’ve checked the Drip Stop and it is already open, try pushing your brew basket back further.
Dripping Water
If the Ninja Coffee maker is leaking water from the brew basket, this is usually an easier fix than you think. You should be able to stop the leaking from the brew basket by simply switching the Drip Stop coffee maker to the closed position after the brew cycle before pulling out the carafe. If the drip stop is indicated as closed and you are still getting leaks, consult the Ninja coffee bar owners manual, as you might need a Ninja Coffee Bar drip stop replacement.
Grounds or Sediments in the Coffee
Before you get in touch with Ninja Coffee Maker customer service to complain about sediments or grounds ruining your cup of coffee, it’s a good idea to double check the grind size that you are using. Ninja recommends using a medium to coarse grind for your coffee with this machine. The permanent Ninja Coffee filter won’t be able to properly screen a finer grind, which can lead to sediments getting through and into your brew.
Second Cup of Coffee Hotter
When it comes to how to use Ninja Coffee Maker, you should always allow it to heat up first. If not, you are unlikely to get a consistent hot temperature for your coffee for all the cups you make. If you make your first cup of coffee immediately after plugging the machine in or after coming out of Power Save mode, then you’ll likely have this problem where your second cup of coffee is hotter. The Ninja Coffee maker will need around three minutes to pre-heat before you start a brew cycle. This should fix the issue and make sure that your coffee temperatures are consistent.
Cup Overflowing
If your Ninja Coffee Bar brews too much or you have a Ninja Coffee Bar overflowing, then this is usually a simple fix. First of all, make sure that you are using an empty cup before you start the brew cycle and that you have not exceeded the Max Fill limit on the water reservoir. You should also ensure that you are using the right cup size. A cup is 12oz, a travel mug is 16oz, and the XL multi-serve option is 20oz.
Coffee Is the Wrong Strength
If you are brewing coffee and it’s too strong, then the best way to fix this is to simply use less coffee grounds for the next brew cycle or use a coarser coffee grind. On the other hand, if your coffee isn’t strong enough, you will usually be able to fix this problem by using more coffee grounds the next time you brew. You can also choose the Rich Brew option for a more concentrated up of coffee.
Needs Cleaning
If you’re wondering why does my Ninja Coffee Maker keep shutting off, then it might be because it needs cleaning. To clean your machine thoroughly you will need to figure out how to clean Ninja 12 cup coffee maker and learn which Ninja Coffee Bar parts you need to clean as part of the process. Descaling is a process that you will usually need to do every couple of months or so to make sure that all the internal Ninja coffee maker parts are free from mineral deposits and clean to make sure it continues working well. When the machine needs cleaning, the clean light will turn on, making it easier for you to keep track of when it needs doing.
Before you start cleaning, first unplug the machine. Check the code on the metal prongs, which should be four digits. If this code ends in 16, follow these instructions:
- Put water in the reservoir to Max Fill and use Ninja Kitchen’s descaling solution. Alternatively, you can fill with white vinegar up to the Travel Mug limit and then add water until the total amount reaches Max Fill.
- Empty the carafe before placing it beneath the brew basket and then select the Full Carafe size.
- Press the button to start cleaning. This will start a sixty minute countdown. The light indicators will dim; you do not have to press any buttons until the cycle has ended.
- When the cycle ends, empty both the reservoir and carafe and use a soft brush to clean them. Pour enough water to reach the Max Fill line in the reservoir and place back on the machine.
- Press to clean again. This will run a Flush cycle, which lasts for around eight minutes.
- After the eight-minute flush cycle, the clean light will switch off automatically.
Clean Light Not Turning Off
If you’ve cleaned the machine and the clean light is staying on, this could be a simple fix such as additional cleaning or you might need to order a Ninja Coffee filter replacement or other Ninja coffee pot replacement parts if they have been damaged by mineral deposits. To be sure, run a second clean cycle, or try to reset the coffee maker. To reset, all you need to do is unplug the power and wait for between five and ten minutes before you plug it back in. Bear in mind that this will also reset the brew clock, so that will also need to be adjusted.
Not Completing a Brew Cycle
If your Ninja Coffee Maker stops brewing and beeps, the lights and sounds coming from the coffee maker will help you better understand the problem. If the machine is beeping and you can see the closed Drip Stop light illuminated, just open the Drip Stop to start brewing. If you can see the clean light is indicated, then you will need to run a sixty-minute clean cycle before you will be able to use your machine and brew coffee. If you’re not seeing either of these lights, check the setup to make sure that everything is assembled and fitted correctly.
Firstly, check that you have put water in the water reservoir. If you have, check the valve at the base for any cracks or damage. If it is damaged, it will cause the coffee maker to shut off since it is in control of the entire machine’s water flow. You can order Ninja coffee maker parts to either replace the valve or the entire reservoir.
Coffee Machine Leaking
If you have noticed a leak coming from your Ninja coffee maker, first check where the leak is coming from. The first thing to do is check that the Drip Stop is closed since this will cause dripping from the brew basket. Check that all the parts are placed securely and correctly. If nothing seems out of place and your machine is still leaking, you should get in touch with Ninja’s customer service for more help.
With several settings and easy to use, the Ninja Coffee Bar is a great addition to your kitchen. If you have one or are considering getting one, be aware of these common problems and how to fix them.
About the author
Daniel Hedlund
Working with the Era of We initiative and loves knowledge sharing and a really good cup of coffee.
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